The English-language forum for all things Latin American, covering business, politics, and culture.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

London Calling: Mexican Pride

Last July we examined Mexican sprinter Ana Guevara including her numerous accomplishments on the track and after she hung up the spikes. The case could be made that she was the greatest Mexican athlete in Olympics history that included a silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Field athlete Mauro Máximo de Jesús has been one of the top Mexican competitors in Paralympics history. In the six occasions that he has participated in the Paralympics he has won at least one medal. This year has been no exception after Máximo de Jesús won two medals: silver on Friday in the F52/53 shot put followed by bronze in the F52/53 javelin on Tuesday.

Ahead of the games Máximo de Jesús had hoped to win gold much like he obtained in 2004 and 2008. Nonetheless he expressed his joy and pride in his accomplishments in London according to Mexico's El Universal:

After a long road where he had to overcome numerous obstacles Mauro qualified to the top competition for athletes with special needs: "It went well. I respect the efforts of my competitors and for me there is no such thing as a small rival. God knows how much I've prepared over these four years to make a great story".

With six days of competition in the books Máximo de Jesús' silver and bronze have helped Mexico maintain third place in the Latin American medals table (nine medals) behind Brazil (21 medals) and Cuba (eleven medals). Argentina remains in fourth place (four medals), then Venezuela (two medals) and lastly Colombia (one medal).